Cricket!

I attended my first ever cricket game over the weekend. It wasn't the big leagues, but I didn't know the difference.

I sat on the lawn with the other spectators - a family day out. The sun came out for a bit, but then hid behind some menacing rain clouds. Luckily, they never quite followed through on their threat.

I watched for three hours, trying to understand what was happening. Mostly it seemed like a lazy day for the players as well. The fielders hung out & watched as the batters jogged from wicket to wicket. Children gathered at the fence line for autographs from the closest player. & after 50 overs, they all broke for lunch, at which point some of the spectators went out on the field to play their own cricket games.

I didn't stay to the end - that would have taken another four hours after lunch. Aparently, this was a very short game. Many cricket games can go on for four or five days. You'd have to take days off from work to see a whole game!

Although I didn't really understand much of what was happening, it was a nice day out in the park. I'm looking forward to catching a rugby game while I'm here in New Zealand as well. It won't be the All Blacks because their season won't start until after I leave, but I won't know the difference.

Photo of the Week: Balloon Over Waikato

Hamilton is world famous for its Balloons Over Waikato event. One morning, I saw this seemingly random balloon over the roof tops of my suburban neighborhood. I'm looking forward to seeing more of these at the festival at the end of March.

10 Things I love about Hamilton

1. You can walk down the street without navigating through a sea of people.

2. There are never any more than five people on the public bus at one time.

3. The cashier at the grocery store asks me how my day is going.

4. There is a restaurant for almost every type of cuisine you can think of.

5. Riding in the left-hand seat as a passenger in a car is fun!

6. Since New Zealand dollars are so close in value to US dollars, it seems like I'm spending more than I actually am, which makes me more concious of my spending.

7. Since there are lots of Chinese people here, I can still eavesdrop on conversations in Mandarin. 

8. There are birds & insects & plants growing everywhere.

9. The tap water tastes better than any bottled water I've ever had.

10. It smells like grass.

Being a very interesting obelisk

There are lots of cool monuments & plaques all over Auckland commemorating the early settlers & their deeds, many of them stationed in peaceful parks around the city. This one made the editor in me laugh & laugh. 



Local Tastes: NZ

You may recall the wacky potato chip flavors I found in Shanghai. Blueberry, mango, numb & spicy! Some of them weren't bad, actually.

Here in Hamilton, they have their own local tastes. I found these delights at the grocery store the other day. I skipped the lamb & mint flavor, but the lime & black pepper was pretty good.

What's the craziest potato chip flavor you've ever seen?